Things didn’t get any better for Carmel down the line. The anger of the situation at the time had been transferred over to Eleanor, with the thought that perhaps this wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t practiced her powers if she hadn’t been pushed to get better by Eleanor. Those thoughts bred sadness in her.
At the time, Carmel had shown it in such a way that it filled Eleanor with guilt. More than that, Eleanor was forced away from Carmel, as the Empire intervened and took Carmel to be monitored and looked after in a credible setting. Thus, the one person who became like a second mother and guide was stripped away from Carmel’s life.
Eleanor couldn’t do much about it either. Even though she taught Carmel, Carmel wasn’t actually a disciple who could take her place next; her position as a princess didn’t allow it, and even the Empire wouldn’t have allowed it too. Plus, Eleanor couldn’t let such power fall into more powerful hands, so even though Eleanor wanted to fight back, she had to move on.
Thus, Carmel’s life became completely dark, only lighted by perhaps Carmelia, who kept forming in her mind. The coldness there dealt with the outside world, while Carmel became the light that hid the darkness. Though in several ways things became even worse for Carmel, her siblings, and stepmothers, having sensed an opportunity, started to act.
They didn’t know why the concubine was killed, but now, without her mother by her side, Carmel was even more vulnerable. She quickly started to feel the pressure from all around, with certain bullying and a sense of disaster filling her surroundings. Carmel could feel her world getting smaller and smaller.
The only thing that barely kept her sanity was the little sister who thought of her as her own—the little sister whose mother had died giving birth and who stayed close to her at all times. The innocence of her younger sister, Tria, kept Carmel moving, but even that couldn’t fight against all the malice falling on her.
The world started to narrow around Carmel.
‘I hate this…..’
‘I hate the world.’
‘I hate my life…..’
‘Why does this stupid love matter so much?’
Questions upon questions filled Carmel’s mind as the world started to press down upon her, and Carmel just wanted to give up. The trauma that was first inflicted on her made it hard for her to even try to get over it, but then the life that Tria brought into her gave her the opportunity to shine forth, to know that she wasn’t completely without love.
Locking that feeling away, for the first time, Carmel tried to thrive. Carmelia, with her coldness, burst forth then, the brutality emerging as Carmelia slowly started to gather all the needed power. Influence slowly started to form for Carmelia, and as such, the pressure from the palace only tripled.
Anger loomed over Carmel, and it led her to embrace her whole self. She understood their fears came from her bloodline; if so, then she would rise to the top. When she reached the top, all those who looked down upon her and tried to harm her would pay a hefty price. Thus, with the protection of the Empire and a will to thrive, Carmel slowly started to get stronger and stronger.
Her powers and connections grew at a rate that none around her could stop. It was a straight growth, a rise that nobody could do anything about. It seemed that everything would go well for her, that is until Carmel turned 13 years old.
‘This memory, please don’t let me see it!’
The phantom Carmel, watching it all, seemed to beg, but no one seemed to hear her, as her second trauma came into being. The one that led to her memories being lost. The truth inches away from her, yet it only made Carmel fear what she might see. Going back to face and seeing her trauma again was not something she knew she could handle.
Thus, the story of 13-year-old Carmel started to play out. At this time, it almost became sure that she would be the crown princess, with nothing able to stop her from perhaps being the next ruler. The current Carmel and Carmelia both believed that there wasn’t a need for any manly love in their life.
Their disdain for it was ever-present, with her followers being Nix and Melvin, the two future Dukes who perhaps provided the strongest support for her. Yet, at this juncture, they were just followers to her, the prospect of being friends with them, much less becoming best friends, being something unthinkable to the current Carmel and Carmelia.
The two of them knew keenly that Nix and Melvin held certain feelings of expectation towards her, perhaps even dreaming of being the next consort Emperor by marrying her. Thus, she kept the two of them at arm’s length, maintaining a more professional relationship.
‘This is painful.’
Knowing what is to happen, after already feeling the betrayal of the two guys, only made the feelings within Carmel even more complex. Yet, despite her pleas, the scene continued to play.
….
“Miss, you have a meeting today.”
Carmel’s eyes turned towards her nanny, one of her most trusted workers, one who had been with her since her mother had died. Thus, the coldness in Carmelia’s eyes softened slightly as she responded.
“Then let’s head out.”
With those words, Carmelia walked with precision and coldness through the hallways of the palace. The once vibrant floors she ran through with happiness, she now walked with apathy, her steps resounding as swarms of security surrounded her. Powerful warriors and servants were all around Carmel as she walked to the outside of the palace.
As she kept walking, her gaze landed upon one of her siblings, the 2nd Prince, who was leading in the race for the throne. Carmelia’s eyes flashed with disdain and anger as she walked past him and his entourage, her words filling his ears.
“Your days are numbered.”
Her words were a declaration as she left the palace. Carmelia entered the carriage prepared for her, with her nanny following suit. The carriage soon set off from the palace, surrounded by several powerful servants and soldiers. The entourage moved through the capital, with Carmelia leaning in comfort as she looked out into the world.
“Everything looks peaceful outside of the palace.”
Carmel, back in control, murmured, the coldness receding. To her words, her nanny smiled, though her eyes seemed to hold some sadness. After a few seconds, it happened. The illusory Carmel and Carmelia both looked down at the scene with dread as suddenly, the nanny, with some old grey hair, spoke to the sitting Carmel.
“My child, I’m sorry.”
“Nanny, what do you mean?”
Carmel asked, sensing a sudden change in the atmosphere. Her gaze trembled as it landed on the magic circle that had been drawn on the floor of the carriage. The betrayal in Carmel’s eyes was ever-present as it lit up before she could react.
“I will be paying for this with my life…..”
Those were the last words Carmel heard before she was taken away from the carriage. The world turned black for her, and for Carmel and Carmelia, the scene ended there.
‘It still hurts.’
‘Yes, it does.’
Carmelia replied to Carmel’s thoughts, the two of them clutching their hearts with the pain of betrayal. The fact that this came from the person they trusted most added extreme trauma to Carmel’s mind. The reason was that the nanny had belonged to the 2nd Prince since the beginning but had chosen to stay with Carmel as she grew up.
It would have been fine if the nanny’s secret husband and child hadn’t been kept under the knife by the 2nd Prince, which led to Carmel being taken and transported to one of the most dangerous areas of her Empire, close to the capital. The betrayal came as a knife deep within her mind, leading to several thoughts.
‘There is no true love….’
‘There is no true loyalty…’
‘Everyone stays with me for something…..’
‘No one would suffer for me or with me……’
‘In the end, all I’ve got is myself…..’
‘Love from a man is useless….’
